Romney and GOP Conservatives Struggle to Find a Comfort Zone

So, why the decision of the "running on fumes" Newt Gingrich to stay in the race and make rather tough statements about Romney in a Newsmax exclusive just hours after Santorum suspended his campaign? Why do the likes of Rush and other major conservative voices seem so uninspired about a Romney nomination? The answer can be found in the way many of these conservative leaders view the mindset of the Romney campaign, as apparently often voiced by none other than ... the Romney campaign.

It seems that the perception among many conservative leaders and pundits is that Mitt Romney or his campaign strategists believe that they will amass so much money and spend it so effectively against Barack Obama that having the support of a Gingrich (who likely to them seems out of touch and counterproductive) or certain core voices in the conservative movement is not necessary. They assume conservative voices and leaders will come along for the ride. At least that is how many in the "conservative wing" view the circumstances as present.

But these conservative Republicans want evidence now that they will be part of the Romney effort and that it will remain a conservative-oriented one at that.

I have no doubt that Team Romney feels it has the secret formula to electoral success down to a science. Spend the money, shred the opponent on air and remain cool, and given current circumstances in our economy, they will win.

There is only one small part of the equation they are lacking: Barack Obama. This continued underestimation of the talents, guile and tenacity of Obama and his team simply amazes me. Barack Obama is a machine -- wired, funded, programmed and ready to destroy. My guess is that by early November, Mitt Romney will feel as if he has been hit by a Facebook, Twitter, television ad, robo-call, community-organized laden freight train. The national media will have torn him to shreds and tossed his good name to the garbage can.

To defeat Barack Obama, Romney will need all the friends he can get. He better start warming up, making deals and kissing tails now. If he does so, he would only join the club of every other person elected president. If he waits too long, or selectively chooses his conservative friends, November will be a very unpleasant month.